Delivery system



Aug. 29, 1950 s. FITZPATRICK DELIVERY SYSTEM Filed April 21, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 5Zepek ,4 fiilkaz rzbi.

y izd 1950 s. L. FITZPATRICK 2,520,239

DELIVERY SYSTEM Filed April 21, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

?atented Aug. 29, 1 950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DELIVERY SYSTEM Stephen L. Fitzpatrick, Detroit, Mich.

Application April 21, 1948, Serial No. 22,386

Claims.

This invention relates broadly to fuel-delivery I delivering fuel at a controlled rate from the tank.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for storing powdered coal and the like in a clean, efficient and convenient manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above-mentioned character having a storage tank and a fuel-delivery system associated with the storage tank, which system is uniquely adapted to remove fuel rapidly at a controlled rate from the tank.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a storage tank of the above-mentioned character that is adapted either for delivery trucks or for stationary installations.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above-mentioned character wherein the delivery system is uniquely constructed to prevent lumping or caking of the fuel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a delivery system of the above-mentioned character having novel means for preventing the fuel from accumulating at the sides of the tank.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a delivery system of the above-mentioned character having means for promoting easy fiow of fuel downwardly in the tank.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a delivery system of the above-mentioned character having a screw conveyer for delivering fuel from the tankand a novel means for increasing the discharge capacity of the apparatus, which means can be employed to supplement or, if desired, substitute for the main screw conveyer.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a storage tank and associated delivery system embodying the invention, parts of the apparatus being broken away and shown in section for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal, longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken on the line 5,-5 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral l0 designates a storage tank for powdered solid fuel such as coal or the like. The tank l0 preferably is constructed of sheet metal and is held in an elevated position by a suitable supporting structure l2. The tank l0 may or may not be divided into separate compartments; however, the tank shown by the drawings is provided with transverse partitions M which divide the same into three separate compartments. Each compartment may be filled independently of the others through openings in the top of the tank. These top openings are closed and sealed by suitable covers l6; and if the tank I0 is relativel large, the top openings preferably are sufficiently large to admit a workman to enter the various compartments to clean or repair the equipment.

Powdered fuel is delivered to the various compartments of the tank It through pipes l8 which connect and open through the covers I6. As fuel accumulates in the tank 10, air is exhausted to the atmosphere through the pipe 20. Preferably a precipitator 22 of the type shown in my copending application Serial No. 30,080 which was filed on the 29th day of May 1948, is provided at the discharge end of the exhaust pipe 20 to collect and. return to the tank any fuel which may be carried out of the tank with the escaping air.

The bottom of the tank I0 may be flat or inclined; howeventhe tank here shown is provided with an essentially flat, horizontal bottom 24, and the latter is formed with a relatively shallow, longitudinal trough 26 which preferably extends the full length of the tank. Powdered fuel fills the trough 26 and, when desired, is moved longitudinally to discharge openings 28 at one end 42 of the tank by a pair of parallel screw conveyers 3D and 32. The screw conveyers 30 and 32 preferably extend the full length of .the trough 26, and they are supported for rotation adjacent their ends by suitable bearings 34 and 35. In this connection the supporting bearings 3d are disposed in the tank 10 and adjacent theend wall 38 thereof. However, the opposite ends of the screw conveyers 30 and 32 extend through the discharge openings 28, through the housing of a blower 40 which is mounted exteand carry'the fuel into the air duct 58.

riorly of the housing adjacent the end 4! thereof, and into a gear housing 42 where they are drivingly connected to a motor 68 or the like in a manner hereinafter described in detail. The supporting bearings 36 are here shown mounted on a portion 44 of the gear housing 42.

Specifically the drive for the screw conveyers 30 and 32 comprises gears 46 and 48 (Fig. 3) which are mounted on the ends of the conveyers within the gearhousing 42. Gears 46 and 48 mesh with idler gears 50 and 52 respectively, the latter gears are keyed or otherwise fastened to respective shafts 54 and 58 which are suitably journaled in the gear housing 42, and the'se'shafts also carry gears 58 and 60 which mesh with a single gear 32 which is fast on the drive shaft 64 of driving motor 65. Thus the ,screw com/tellers 30 and 32 are rotatably driven simultaneously in the same direction, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3 to move powdered fuel in the tank to the-two discharge openings 28. Manifstly the rate of movement of the fuel will -be-riatively uniform, and the amount of fuel delivered per unit of time can be easily controlled by regulating the rotative speed of the screwconvey'ers, Since the blower 48 is'mounted'between the tank and the motor .66, the drive shaft 54 of the motor conveniently can be extended entirely through the gear housing 42 into the blower housing and connected to the blower fan. Thus the 's'ingle motor 66 can beutilized to drive the screw conveyers 30 and 32 and also to drivethe blower fan. The blower 40 is mounted so that it discharges a direct down blast at the end of the tank [0, and the forced draft of air generated by the blower is conducted downwardly through a vertical air duct 88.

' The portions of the screw conveyers 30 and 52 which extend through the blower housing 40 are enclosed in separate, generally tubular casings l0 and 12 (Fig. 2). These casings extend horizontally entirely through the blowe'r'ho'using and receive fuel which is moved from the tank I0 by the conveyers 30 and 32. At substantially the middle thereof, the casings "wand" 12 are provided with depending fuel-'discharge-pipes 1.4 and 16 respectively which extend downwardly in Each 'of the pipes 74 and 16 makes a smooth, ninetydegree bend at the bottom thereof so that the fuel discharges horizontally therefrom. The air duct :68a1s'o makes a ninety-degree turn with the pipes 14 and 16, and the horizontally extending portion 18 of the duct'preferably is of reduced diameter and forms a relatively long feed .line

to the furnace or other point of destination. .If the apparatus is adapted to deliverfuel .to a furnace, a delivery tank l9 for afuel carburetor .of the type shown in my copending application Serial No. 30,080 which was filed on the 29th day of May, 1948, may be inserted in the line 78 ahead of the furnace to assure a uniform feed and to disseminate the fuel evenly'in the current of air which carries it to thefurnace.

In this connection it will be observed that the horizontally directed outlets of discharge'pipes "l4 and 16 register substantially with .thehorizontal feed-line portion '18 of the air duct 68 ,sogthat coal discharged from the pipes flows smoothly into the feed line; Also, .it' will be apparent that the forced downdraft of air created in duct 68 by blower 40 creates a suction in the discharge pipes 14 and 16 which assists in drawing the coal at a substantially even rate from the pipes. The air is supplied to the ductv 16 in suflicient volume so that all the coal discharged from the tubes 14 and 16 is picked up instantly and carried along into the feed line 18.

Just above the elbows of the discharge pipes and 16 and on the opposite sides from the discharge openings of the pipes are horizontal slits and 82 through which air passes into the lower portions of the pipes. Also, it will be observed that the discharge pipes 14 and 76 are formed to catch part of the air flowing downwardly through the air duct 58 and to direct the game through the slits 80 and 82 into the fueldischarge pipes 74 and 16. Air entering through slitssil and 82 sweeps through the lower portions of the pipes 14 and 16, prevents coal from settling and accumulating at the bottom of the elbows, and forces thecoal out into the feed line 18. However, the bulk of the air generated by blower 40 flows outside the fuel-discharge pipes 1'4 and '16, and, as suggested, as the air passes the outlet o f th e pipes and :16, the .air draws along the fuel-with it by its induction.effect.

In order to increase the capacity of the fueldelivery system, I provide separate horizontal ducts 84 and 85 under'the trough 25land immediately below respective screw conveyors 30 and 32. Openings 88 controlled by gate valves 90 are provided atspaced points along the bottom of trough 26, and these openings effect communication "between the latter and .the ducts 84 and 85. Valves 90 are operated in unison by a connecting rod 9|, which rod extends exteriorly ,of the tank i0 and is provided with a manually operable handle 82. When the valves 00 are open, powdered fuel in the trough 28falls downwardly into the ducts 84 and 88 continuously during operation of the screw conveyers 30 and 32. As the screw conveyers operate, they turn and agitate the fuel in the trough 25; and since the screw conveyers are rotated simultaneously at the same speed; they supply coal at a fairly uniform rate to both ducts 84 and'86.

An elbow or nozzle .94 extends downwardly from each opening 88. These nozzles 94 extend into the ducts 84 and 86, and the lower ends thereof are'directe'd horizontally toward the end 42 of the tank l0. Thus the nozzles ideliver fuel horizontally intothecluctssMandHfi and in the direction of the air. duct 88; In this connection it will be observed (Fig. 1) that the ducts. and 85 open into .the air duct 88 at. 95 so that fuel is delivered into the duct 68 from the ducts 84 ang 86. This coalis carried downwardly in duct .88 by .the air flowin'g'therethrough; and as the mixture-of air and coal enters the feed line- '18,

ii; merges with the coal coming from the disthrough air tubes 86 andv 88; and as this airmo'ves forwardly through the ducts 84 and 88, it carries coal in the latter to the duct 58. Air flowing downwardly in duct .68 past the openings 95 creates a suction in the ducts 84 and 88 which generates a natural flowof air through the ducts 84 and 86 and assists'in moving the coal into the air duct. 88.

In order to start air moving through the ducts 84 and 8.6 when operation ofthev system is first begun or if requiredduring operation thereof, I provide each of the nozzles 94 with a jacket 99 and deliver air under pressure to the jackets behind the discharge openings of the nozzles. In Fig. 1 I have shown a tank I99 of compressed air mounted on the supporting structure I2. Air under pressure from the tank .I passes through a pipe I92 into a manifold I94 and thence through branch pipes I96 to the jackets 99. Each branch pipe I06 is controlled by a manually operated valve I08. Also, air from pipe I02may enter'the feed line I8 through a second pipe III! to assist in moving the fuel through the line I8 when the operation of the system is first begun or as required during operation of the same. Pipe I Ill is controlled by a manually operated valve H2 so that air from the tank I99 can be cut off or admitted to the feed line at a controlled rate. If desired, air under pressure may be supplied continuously to the tank III! by an air compressor or the like (not shown) during operation of the system. Air supplied to the jackets 99 discharges forwardly into the ducts 84 and 86 past the discharge orifices of nozzles 94, and air flowing past the orifices induces a flow of fuel through the nozzles and carries thefuel discharged from the nozzles longitudinally through the ducts 84 and 86 into the air duct 68 and thence to the supply line 18.

Fuel in the tank I0 tends to funnel into the trough 26; and in order to move the fuel which accumulates on the bottom 24 at opposite sides of the trough, I provid d a pair of manually operable scrapers I 29. The scrapers I28 extend the full length of the tank It through suitable openings I22 (Fig. in the partitions I4 so that each scraper operates to move fuel in all three compartments of the tank simultaneously to the trough 26. at any time during operation of the apparatus; however, it u ually is necessary to operate them only when the supply of fuel in the tank II! is relatively depleted.

Specifically, each of the scrapers I comprises a pair of shafts I24 and I26 which are su ported in laterally spaced, parallel relation above the bottom 24 by supports I28. Laterally aligned pairs of driving sprock ts ISI! and I22 are fixed on the shafts I24 and I26, and an endle s chain I34 is trained over each pair of sprockets. Radlally projecting scraper blades I36 carried by the endless chains I34 extend the full length of the tank II). By rotating the chains simultaneously in the direction of the arrow in Fi 5, the blades I are caused to move across the floor of the tank to move fuel into the trough 26.

Any suitable, manually or mechanically operable driving means may be provided for the scrapers I29. In the form of the invention here shown by way of illustration, I provide a manually operable drive for each scra er.

In each instance, the shaft 624 is a driving shaft, and the shaft I26 is an idler shaft which is driven only through the sprockets I34 and I22 and endless chains I34. As shown in Fig. 4, the drive shaft I24 projects through the rearward end 38 of the tank I9, and the projecting end thereof carries a gear I40 which is keyed or otherwise rotatably fixed thereto. The gear I49 meshes with a gear I42 which is suitably journaled on the housing I9, and the latter gear carries a companion gear I44 which rotates therewith and meshes with a gear I45. A manually pperable hand wheel I48 is provided to rotate The scrapers I26 may be operated the latter gear, and all of the gearing is enclosed in a suitable housing I50.

Thus to drive the scrapers I2Il it is merely necessary to rotate the hand wheels I48, and the latter act through the gear drives to actuate the scraper mechanisms. In the form of the invene tion here shown, the two scrapers I29 are separately operable.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a storage receptacle for powdered fuel, said receptacle having bottom, a longitudinal. passage below said bottom and openings in said bottom through which fuel passes from the receptacle into the passage; a discharge one end of said passage; nozzles extending into the passage from said openings, said nozzles having outlets facing the discharge adapted to deliver fuel from said openings horizontally into said passage; jackets around and spaced from said nozzles, said jackets having discharge openings disposed in register with the outlets in said nozzles; and means for delivering air under pressure to the jackets behind said discharge openings.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a storage receptacle for powdered fuel, said receptacle having a bottom, a discharge opening at one end thereof immediately above said bottom, a longitudinal passage below said bottom, and openings in said bottom through which fuel passes from the receptacle into the passage; means including a screw conveyer in said receptacle for delivering fuel to said discharge opening and for agitating the fuel above said bottom openings; nozzles extending into said passage from said bottom openings, said nozzles having outlets facing one end of the passage and adapted to deliver fuel from said bottom openings horizontally into said passage; and means for creating a suction in the outlets of said nozzles.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 including means within said receptacle for delivering fuel to said screw conveyer.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 2 including manually operable means on the bottom of said receptacle at opposite sides of said screw conveyer for moving fuel to said conveyer.

5. A delivery system for powdered fuels comprising a storage receptacle for powdered fuel having a bottom therein, a vertical discharge duct at the end of said receptacle extending downwardly from said bottom and provided at the lower end thereof with a horizontal extension, a longitudinal trough in said bottom opening into said duct, screw conveyer means in said trough for moving said fuel into said duct, a pipe in and of smaller diameter than the duct for receiving fuel delivered to the duct by said conveyer means, said pipe extending downwardly to substantially the bottom of the duct, an elbow on the lower end of the pipe having a discharge opening arranged to deliver fuel substantially horizontally into the extension of said duct, means for forcing at current of air under pressure downwardly through the duct around said pipe and past the discharge opening of said elbow, and an upwardly opening ,transverselyelongated slit in the back of said lbowfor by-passing-part of said airinto thezelbow, said slit having spaced walls for guidingand directing lay-passed air downwardly into the elbow and terminating behind said discharge opening whereby the byepassed airlsweeps over the bottom of the elbowand prevents fueLpartic'les from accumulating thereon, and. whereby outside air flowing past the outlet of the nozzle has an induction effect tendingto draw fuel from the nozzle.

6. A delivery system for powdered fuels-comprising a storage receptacle for powdered fuel having a bottom therein, vertical discharge duct at'thee-nd of said receptacle extending -downwardly from saidbottom and provided at the lower end thereof with a horizontal extension, a longitudinal trough in said bottom opening into said duct, alongitudinal passage below said trough opening at one end into said duct, and

openings interconnecting the trough and said c passage through which fuel passes from the trough into the passage, screw conveyor means in said trough for moving fuel into said duct and for-agitating fuel in the trough topromote flow of "lower end of the pipe having a discharge opening arranged to deliver fuel substantially horizon tally into the extension of said duct, means for forcing a current of air under pressure downwardly through the duct around said pipe and past the discharge opening of said elbow and also "longitudinally through said passage to move fuel delivered thereto through said openings into the duct, and an upwardly opening slit in the back of said elbow for lay-passing part of the air traversing said duct into the elbow, said slit having spaced front and rear walls for guiding and directing by-passed air downwardly into the elbow and terminating behind said discharge opening, whereby the by-p-assed airsweeps over the bottom of the elbow and prevents fuel particles from accumulating thereon and whereby outside air flowing past the outlet of the nozzle has an induction effect tending to draw fuel from the nozzle.

"7. A delivery system for powdered fuels'comrisin a storage receptacle for powdered fuel having a bottom therein, a vertical discharge duct at the end of said receptacle extending downwardly from said bottom and provided at the lower end thereof with a horizontal extension, a longitudinal trough in said bottom opening into said duct, a longitudinal passage below said trough opening at one end into said duct, and openings interconnecting the trough and said passage through which fuel passes from the trough into the passage, screw conveyer means in said trough for moving fuel into said duct and for agitating fuel in the trough to prodischarge opening arranged to deliver fuel substantially horizontally into the extension of said duct, means for forcing a current of air under pressure downwardly through the duct around said pipe and past the discharge opening of said elbow, separate means for creating a forced draft ofair longitudinallythroughsaid passage in the direction of said duct, said air icking up and carrying" fuel par-ticles discharged through the openingsinto *thetdowndraft in saidduct, and an upwardly opening :slit in the back of said elbow-for by-passingipart of the airtraversing said duct into'the elbow, said slit having spaced front and rear walls for guiding and directing by.-.passed airidownwardly into the elbow and terminating behind said discharge opening, whereby thebyspassed air sweeps over the bottom of theel'bow. andprevents fuel particles from accumulating thereon and whereby outsideair flowing past theioutlet of the nozzle has an induction effectwtending to draw fuel from the nozzle. 7

8. A delivery systemfor powdered fuels comprising-a storage receptaclexfor powdered fuel having a bottom therein,.a vertical discharge duct at the end of said receptacle extending downwardly from said bottom and providedat the lowerend thereof with a'horizontal extension, a longitudinaltrough in said bottom opening into said duct, a longitudinal passage-below said trough opening at one end into said duct, and openings interconnecting the trough and said passage through which fuel passes from the trough into the passage, screw conveyor means insaid trough for moving fuel into said duct and for agitating fuel in the trough to promote flow of fuel through said openings into saidpassage, a pipe in and of smaller diameter than the-duct for receiving fuel delivered to the duct-by said conveyer, saidpipe extending downwardly to substantially the bottom of the duct, an elbow on the lower end of the pipe having a discharge opening. arranged to deliver fuel substantial-1yhorizontally into theextension of said duct, means'for-forcing a current of air under pressure downwardiy through the duct around said pipe and past the discharge opening of said elbow, nozzles extending into said passage from said openings, said nozzles having outlets facing the discharge duct and adapted-to deliver fuel from the openings horizontally into the passage, andmeans for creating aforced draft of air longitudinally in -said passage and in the direction .of said duct whereby said air flowing past the outlets-of said nozzles has an induction effect tending to draw fuel from the nozzles and whereby fuel discharged from the nozzles is nozzle.

9. A delivery system for powdered fuels comprising a storage receptacle for powdered fuel having a bottom therein, a vertical discharge duct at the end of said receptacle extending downwardly from said bottom and provided at the lower end thereof with a horizontal extension, longitudinal trough in said bottom opening into said duct, screw conveyer means in said trough for moving said fuel into said duct, a pipe in and of smaller diameter than the duct for receiving fuel delivered to the ductby said conveyor means, said pipe extending downwardly to substantially the bottom of the duct, an elbow on the lower end of the pipe having a discharge opening arranged to deliver fuel substantially horizontally into the extension of said duct, means for forcing a current of air under pressure downwardly through the duct around said pipe and past the discharge opening of said elbow, an upwardly opening transversely elongated slit in the back of said elbow for by-passing part of said air into the elbow, said slit having spaced walls for guiding and directing by-passed air downwardly into the elbow and terminating behind said discharge opening whereby the bypassed air sweeps over the bottom of the elbow and prevents fuel particles from accumulating thereon, and whereby outside air flowing past the outlet of the nozzle has an induction effect tending to draw fuel from the nozzle, 3, longitudinal passage below said trough opening at one end thereof into the annular space between said duct and said pipe, openings in the bottom of the trough through which fuel passes into the passage, nozzles extending into said passage from said openings, said nozzles having outlets facing the discharge duct and adapted to deliver fuel from said openings horizontally into said passage, jackets around and spaced from said nozzles, and means for delivering air under pressure to each of said jackets behind the outlets of said nozzles, whereby said jackets initially confine the air to increase its velocity and directs such air past said outlets so that the air has an induction effect tending to draw fuel from the nozzles and whereby fuel discharged from the nozzles is carried along suspended in the air to said duct.

10. A delivery system for powdered fuels comprising a storage receptacle for powdered fuel having a bottom therein, a vertical discharge duct at the end of said receptacle extending downwardly from said bottom and provided at the lower end thereof with a horizontal extension, a longitudinal trough in said bottom opening into said duct, screw conveyer means in said trough for moving said fuel into said duct, a pipe in and of smaller diameter than the duct for receiving fuel delivered to the duct by said conveyer means, said pipe extending downwardly to substantially the bottom of the duct, an elbow on the lower end of the pipe having a discharge opening arranged to deliver fuel substantially horizontally into the extension of said duct, means for forcing a current of air under pressure downwardly through the duct around said pipe and past the discharge opening of said elbow, an upwardly opening transversely elongated slit in the back of said elbow for lay-passing part of said air into the elbow, said slit having spaced walls for guiding and directing by-passed air downwardly into the elbow and terminating behind said discharge opening whereby the bypassed air sweeps over the bottom of the elbow and prevents fuel particles from accumulating thereon, and whereby outside air flowing past the outlet of the nozzle has an induction effect tending to draw fuel from the nozzle, a longitudinal passage below said trough opening at one end thereof into the annular space between said duct and said pipe, openings in the bottom of the trough through which fuel passes into the passage, nozzles extending into said passage from said openings, said nozzles having outlets facing the discharge duct and adapted to deliver fuel from said openings horizontally into said passage, jackets around and spaced from said nozzles, and means for delivering air under pressure to said passage, said means having a plurality of branch outlets extending into said passage and connecting with respective jackets behind the outlets of said nozzles, whereby said jackets direct air past said outlets so that the air has an induction effect tending to draw fuel from the nozzles and whereby the fuel-laden air is directed by the jackets to said duct.

STEPHEN L. FITZPATRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,243,892 Strong Oct. 23, 1917 1,699,588 Hermsdori Jan. 22, 1929 

